Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Just How Effective Is Immigration Enforcement?

Even rumors of immigration enforcement are overwhelmingly effective. The San Joaquin Valley was shut down last week, with illegal aliens in panic mode when rumors of immigration sweeps of the center of illegal immigration ran rampant.

FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — The rumor spread like wildfire via phone calls, text messages and social media postings and has persisted now for more than three weeks: Immigration agents are rounding up unauthorized workers in Central California farming communities.

In Madera, Dinuba, Reedley and parts of Fresno, streets emptied out, soccer games were cancelled and usually bustling businesses saw few customers. Area farmers say their employees are scared, with some not coming to work. Children are missing school.

Worse, local law enforcement and the Slave Labor Power participated along with the Mexican government of decrying and denying that any immigration enforcement was actually occuring.

The disruption has become so widespread and unrelenting that local law enforcement and business leaders took the unusual step of holding a news conference Friday to try to reassure the community that no raids have occurred.

"Every week we're getting dozens of calls from workers who are afraid because they say they heard that others were stopped on the side of the highway and hauled away," said Manuel Cunha, Jr., president of the Nisei Farmers League, the group that represents growers in the San Joaquin Valley.

Cunha organized the news conference, which included a representative from the Mexican consulate as well as other community leaders.

Even the ever useless ICE got in the game, assuring local law enforcement and illegal alien groups that there was no enforcement action.

Virginia Kice, spokeswoman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said the agency is aware of the rumors. While she would not discuss specific law enforcement efforts, Kice said ICE's priority is targeting immigrants who have committed crimes and "not sweeps or raids to target undocumented immigrants indiscriminately."

Local law enforcement officials said ICE assured them the rumors are false.

"I spoke with immigration officials at our local office and have been told directly that they are not conducting massive sweeps in this area, they are not conducting this activity," Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims said.

Give Virginia Kice a call and ask why ICE is working with illegal alien groups to openly defy Federal law.

630 Sansome Street

San Francisco, CA 94111

Main (510) 267-3800

Fax (510) 267-3870

Given the impact of rumors of immigration enforcement, just imagine if the enforcement was real and the ICE spokesman open declared that immigration agents were in the field looking for and arresting illegal aliens throughout the San Joaquin Valley. It would be Operation Wetback all over again.